News & Views

September 27 2021

BENEFIT TO HELP FEED FAMILIES & ALLEVIATE HUNGER IN OUR COMMUNITIES

A unique opportunity to make a difference to support people right here in your community during the pandemic.

Greg and Kathy Spier of Foxborough are issuing a $50,000 challenge grant and will match every donation made up to $50,000. With your support, the Spier Family Kindness for Kids Challenge will result in $100,000 to help feed people and benefit food security initiatives through our YMCA.

100% of every gift goes directly to helping children and families in need. Gifts will be matched now through September 26, 2021.

Many family and individuals have lost jobs which has an increasingly hard strain on people’s budgets for basic needs like food and other necessities and may not able to make ends meet. Through the YMCA, people will have access to healthy meals and grocery bags of food as a result of these philanthropic efforts and the support of a caring community of people who want to strengthen our community and make a difference.

Greg and Kathy Spier, long time Foxborough residents, Y members and volunteers, and community leaders, are committed to improving the quality of life in their community. The Spier Family’s legacy includes the naming of the indoor and outdoor aquatics centers at the Y’s Invensys Foxboro Branch, along with their parents, Sonja and the late Alex Spier.

Through the Spier Family Kindness for Kids Challenge, Kathy Spier expressed her hope that this challenge “has inspired people to make a gift to help feed kids and families and spread kindness and a caring hand to those who need it during a difficult time in our communities.”

“Our family has always believed in giving back to the community and this YMCA. We have learned from our mom and dad the importance of paying it forward and making your community a better place. Through this challenge, and with the support of our community, together we will make a difference providing food access to our neighbors in need during this pandemic,” said Greg Spier.

When asked why the Spiers are issuing this challenge, Greg shared, “Kathy and I give because our hearts feel good when we do so, and we advocate for the Y because we know the Y’s reputation and commitment to helping people. Now more than ever in these uncertain times, we all need to come together to support one another.”

Every gift matters.

“I’m so proud of the work our Y has done – reflecting our mission and values – to provide emergency support focused on the needs of those challenged with food insecurity,” said Ed Hurley, President of the Hockomock Area YMCA. “Greg and Kathy Spier have been passionate partners for so many years with our Y. This incredible challenge will help our neighbors when they need it most and is the latest example of the Spier family’s commitment to our YMCA and the communities we are so proud to serve.”

Did you know?

• Since the pandemic started, when our doors were closed in March,we immediately began providing food for people in need and providing emergency child care for essential personnel.

• As of August 7th, 152,000 meals and 15,623 grocery bags have been provided to people in the local communities that we are proud to serve.

• Every Wednesday, since March 18th, free family-size grocery bags valued at $50 each have been distributed at their branches in Foxboro, Franklin and North Attleboro to anyone in need. No registration, no questions asked. Just a helping hand and nourishing food for neighbors who need it.

• We have been working with school nutrition departments and community partners to ensure that children and families have grab and go meals for breakfast and lunch while schools have been closed and through the summer months. And the need for food access continues to grow.

 Together, we can make a difference in the lives of local kids, individuals and families who continue to face food insecurity during this unprecedented time.

To learn about other ways to support this initiative, please contact Katie Moore at katiem@hockymca.org.